CLOSING UP SHOP

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]Crafted and dry goods vendors say they are being forced out of earning a living for the next month as developer Global Port Holdings shift construction efforts to the section of the Castries waterfront currently known as the arcade. On the 15th of this month, May.

[00:00:16]And we will be back on the 15th of June.

[00:00:19]That's what they said.

[00:00:21]But they're sending us home.

[00:00:24]We have truck to hire, taxi to hire to bring our things home. They don't give us nowhere to put our things.

[00:00:31]And it's unfair. We have bills to pay.

[00:00:34]Those that have mortgage, their mortgage. You have children to send to school. You have bills to pay at your home. And they send you at your home not $1. That hurting. It's not fair for us.

[00:00:46]Another vendor lamented that the move was prompted without sufficient notice.

[00:00:50]Just 2 weeks in advance. So, we didn't have enough time at least, you know, to prepare and things. And most of us is that our home will be for the month. At least they should have at least give us something for going home.

[00:01:05]And you know, for a whole month we have bills to pay and things. And we need to know what they're doing about that, the government, if they can do something about that. By their account, they have not received official confirmation on when relocation will begin. And while discussions about temporary spaces have started, they remain uncertain whether the proposed locations will provide enough room, visibility, or facilities to allow them to continue operating effectively. They did not. And they did not give a written notice.

[00:01:36]At least word of mouth does not mean anything. It can be changed.

[00:01:43]And that is where the problem is.

[00:01:46]And have you seen the temporary space that was allocated to you? No, nobody have not seen it. Concerns were also raised about what will happen after construction is completed. Vendors questioned whether they will be guaranteed a return to the redeveloped area once work by GPH is finished. They said um some people will return between the middle of June, but it's not all of us.

[00:02:11]And what's about those that is there for up to October and October might be next year?

[00:02:18]What we doing?

[00:02:21]So it it is unfair. One vendor explained that the uncertainties surrounding the transition has created anxiety among small business owners who depend on daily sales to survive. Vendors say they hope authorities will provide clearer communication and assurances moving forward. They send us home. We agree to go home, okay?

[00:02:40]But after 31 years inside of it, we going out our home. We have our bills. We have children going to school.

[00:02:48]Some of us renting.

[00:02:50]What are we going to do? Just sit down in the house? Who paying our bills? Who put my face in that?

[00:02:58]Who paying our bills? Huh?

[00:03:00]What are we giving our children? How we managing? And they're not even telling us when we coming back.

[00:03:07]So, I think that is unfair to vendors.

[00:03:10]Meanwhile, vendors are calling for greater transparency, proper consultation, and relocation agreements that protect their livelihoods during the redevelopment process.

[00:03:20]As redevelopment plans continue, vendors say they remain hopeful that a fair solution can be reached. One that balances modernization efforts with the survival of small businesses operating at the Vendors Arcade. I'm Christabel Obe reporting for Hot 7 TV news.